Where beer geeks get offended. Welcome to the world of beer as viewed by the founder of the New Albanian Brewing Company in New Albany, Indiana, who reminds you that beer is far too important to be left to Rate Advocate.

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

NABC Beer Descriptions, for the Great Taste of the Midwest 2011 official program.

NABC beer descriptions for the Great Taste of the Midwest 2011 official program, as submitted earlier this summer. We're only a few days away!

B’Urban TrotterDouble India Pale Ale
ABV: 9.2%
IBU: 208
OG: 21 degrees Plato
Finish Line at the Starting Gate
If the Kentucky Derby is the greatest two minutes in sports, then B’Urban Trotter is the finest few moments of sipping, because what better place for a brewer/ostrich rancher from Flanders to seek inspiration than Louisville’s annual Run for the Roses? With collaborative assistance from NABC and Louisville Beer Store, De Struise’s Urbain Coutteau created this “Derbied” Double India Pale Ale to be dry-hopped and bourbon/oak aged, with a suggestion of mint for the home stretch.

Special additions: Vanilla beans and honey were added during the whirlpool.

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Elector
Imperial Red
ABV: 7.5%
IBU: 62
OG: 18.5 degrees Plato
Makes Democracy Pointless
Richly malty and excessively hopped, Elector was first brewed on Election Day, taking its name from the Electoral College. In like fashion, Elector’s unique character makes democracy utterly pointless. It severs party affiliations, crosses the aisle, and commands you to drink early and vote often. That’s because whenever Elector is on the ballot, there’s only one real choice.

Malts: Rahr Pale and Simpsons Medium Crystal

Hops: Nugget and Cascade

Yeast: House American

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Hoptimus
Imperial IPA
ABV: 10.7%
IBU: 100
OG: 22.6 degrees Plato
Sterner Stuff
Living vicariously through others is a sad compromise meant only for rank amateurs and subpar international lagers. Rather, we all might profit from the principled example of Hoptimus, which lives vivaciously, audaciously and capriciously through itself. With a snarky hop character that is blatantly unrepentant, Hoptimus ensures that meek palates surely will not inherit the earth.

Malt: Special Pale

Hops: Four additions of high alpha Nugget, one late addition of Cascade, dry-hopped with whole cone Cascades

Yeast: House English

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JaxonBarley Wine
ABV: 11%
IBU: 100
OG: 28 degrees Plato
Drop the Leash and Let Him Run
The newest member of the Brewers’ Best Friend Series teasingly asks the question, “With a bark like that, who needs Pat?,” because Jaxon, NABC’s properly pedigreed Barleywine, is brewed and aged by David Pierce (creator of the legendary Bearded Pat’s Barley Wine) at Bank Street Brewhouse. Only the first runnings are collected from the mash tun, with no sparge. Three separate mashes make up one batch.

Naughty Girl
Belgian India Blonde Ale
ABV: 6%
IBU: 69
OG: 14.4 degrees Plato
Naturally Naughty -- by Nurture
It all began as a Belgo-American ménage a trois, but then the brewers arrived and transformed the trans-oceanic affair into a beer love pentangle. The collaborative minds at Louisville Beer Store, De Struise Brouwers and New Albanian Brewing Company offer this, a willfully disobedient India Blonde Ale with a hop on her shoulder.

Solidarity
Baltic Porter
ABV: 8%
IBU: 18
OG: 21.1 degrees Plato
Solidarity or Death
In the 1980’s, the Solidarity trade union movement in Poland helped end the
Communist Party’s hegemony. In 2011, we watched as Wisconsin fought its own battles against repression. We tip our hats to Solidarity, both as a concept and a movement, with this robust liquid reminder of Baltic foresight in activism … and strong beer.

Special treatment: Hop-backed with dried Bing tart cherries. Aged for one year on oak and dried tart cherries.

Yeast: House English

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Tunnel Vision
ABV: 9.5%
IBU: 20
OG: 22.1 degrees Plato
The Ultimate in Sexy Subterranean ChicThose hardy immigrant gnomes who came from the venerable hills of the Ardennes to take up residence beneath the mysterious Knobs of Southern Indiana get lonely, too. That’s why NABC gave them Tunnel Vision, a potion reminiscent of home, and sufficiently versatile for consumption in all seasons -- and on all continents.

Yakima
Rye India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.5%
IBU: 130
OG: 17 degrees Plato
How the Midwest Was Won
“Yakima is simple in design: This beer is for me, the hophead Brewmaster here in the land of no coast. After many years of liquid research, the time came to satisfy my inner desire to craft a Rye IPA so immaculate that it would ‘up’ our revolution even further. Mission accomplished.” -- Jared Williamson

Beak’s Best
American ESB
ABV: 5.3%
IBU: 35
OG: 14.75 degrees Plato
American Bitter & Soul Liniment
Brewed with English malts and American hops, and named in honor of globetrotting historian and educator Don "Beak" Barry. You really need to meet the Beak, and sample his ale.

Community DarkEnglish Dark Mild
ABV: 3.7%
IBU: 12.5
OG: 11.5 degrees Plato
Inside Is What Counts
Indiana State Fair Brewers Cup gold medal winner, 2011. Inspired by traditional English Mild, the style that fueled the factory workers who made the Industrial Revolution, Community Dark is revolutionary in its own way: Dark-colored but light-bodied, and a session ale suitable for New Albany’s emerging downtown renaissance.